A peer to peer communications system implements scheduling of traffic intervals in a distributed manner utilizing connection priority and interference information. A peer to peer timing structure includes a user scheduling interval, with ordered transmission request and response intervals, and an associated traffic interval. The priority associated with a request of an early interval is higher than the priority of a request of a later interval. A first device, connected to a second device, makes a decision as to whether or not to yield the traffic interval as a function of estimated interference that it will impose on higher priority connection receivers if it transmits during the traffic interval. The second device makes a decision as to whether or not to transmit a positive transmission request response signal as a function of a generated received signal quality value, based on received requests for its own and for higher priority connections.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of operating a first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the method comprising: monitoring, by the first device, a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities; determining, by the first device, whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; and if it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted based on the received transmission request response, refraining from using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection and refraining from transmitting traffic during said first traffic interval, wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
In a peer-to-peer wireless system, a first device with a connection to a second device monitors the transmission request response interval of another connection (between a third and fourth device). This monitoring occurs within a scheduling interval containing multiple ordered request/response intervals, higher priority connections come first. Based on whether a response was detected during the monitored interval, the first device decides whether *it* will request to transmit data. If a response *was* detected for the other connection, indicating its intention to transmit, the first device will *not* send its own request, and will not transmit data during the traffic interval.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: if it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received, transmitting a transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.
Continuing from the prior description, if the first device monitors the transmission request response interval of another connection and *doesn't* detect a response, the first device *will* transmit its own transmission request during its allocated transmission request interval within the same scheduling interval.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.
Building on the previous two descriptions, the transmission request interval used by the first device (in the event that it decides to transmit) comes *after* the transmission request interval for higher priority connections and the transmission request response interval that it initially monitored. This maintains priority during transmission requests.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: monitoring a second transmission request response interval the second transmission request response interval corresponding to said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection for responses to transmission requests transmitted during said transmission request interval.
In addition to the features of the previous claims, the first device *also* monitors a *second* transmission request response interval. This second interval is associated with the first device's own transmission request interval, allowing the first device to see if its transmission request was acknowledged.
5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising: determining whether to transmit traffic data during said first traffic interval based on signals detected by said monitoring during said second transmission request interval.
Following the process described so far, the first device will then decide whether to transmit actual traffic data during its traffic interval. This decision is based on the signals detected during the *second* transmission request response interval (the one associated with its own request). So, the device monitors, requests, and then monitors again before transmitting data.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein determining whether to transmit traffic data includes: determining if a response to the transmitted transmission request was received; and determining whether a response to a transmission request corresponding to a connection having a higher priority than said first connection was received during said second transmission request response interval.
The decision of whether to transmit data involves two steps: 1) checking if the first device received a response to *its own* transmission request, and 2) checking if a response was received for a higher-priority connection's transmission request during that same second transmission request response interval.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising: when it is determined that a response to a transmission request corresponding to a connection having a higher priority than said first connection was received, generating an interference cost estimate, as a function of the response signal corresponding to the higher priority connection, received during the second transmission request response interval, said generated interference cost estimate estimating interference which will be caused if the first device transmits traffic data.
If the first device detects a response to a higher priority connection during the second transmission request response interval, it estimates the interference cost that *its own* transmission would cause. This cost is a function of the received signal from the higher priority connection.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein when it is determined that a response to the transmitted transmission request was received and the generated interference cost estimate is below a threshold, it is determined that traffic data is to be transmitted during said first traffic interval, the method further comprising: transmitting traffic data to the second communication device during the first traffic interval when it is determined that traffic data is to be transmitted during said first traffic interval.
Continuing the process, if the first device *did* receive a response to its own request, *and* the estimated interference cost (calculated from the higher-priority response) is *below* a defined threshold, the first device *will* then transmit its traffic data to the second device during the traffic interval.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether to transmit a transmission request includes: if it is determined that the transmission request response corresponding to the second connection was received during said first transmission request response interval, i) generating an interference cost estimate as a function of the received response corresponding to said second connection, said interference cost estimate estimates interference which will be caused if the first device transmits traffic data; and ii) deciding not to transmit the transmission request when said interference cost estimate exceeds a threshold.
In a peer-to-peer wireless system, a first device connected to a second device monitors another connection's (third and fourth device) transmission request response interval. If a response *was* received for this higher priority connection, the first device estimates the interference cost to others if it transmits its own traffic. The device will *not* send a transmission request if that interference cost exceeds a threshold.
10. A first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the first device comprising: a first monitoring module for monitoring a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities; a transmission request determination module for determining whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; a transmission module for transmitting transmission requests; and a control module for controlling said transmission module to transmit a transmission request using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when said determination module determines a transmission request is to be transmitted and for controlling the transmission module to refrain from transmitting using the transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted, wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
A peer-to-peer wireless device (the first device) connected to a second device includes: A module that monitors the request/response of another connection (third/fourth device); A module to determine whether to transmit a request based on whether other connection responded; A module for sending transmission requests; A control module. The control module makes the decision on whether to send a transmission request for it's own transmission time based on whether a higher priority connection (third/fourth device) is using its time.
11. The first device of claim 10 , further comprising: a transmission request generation module for generating a transmission request when it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received; and wherein said control module controls the transmission module to transmit the generated transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.
The device described previously also includes a module that generates a transmission request if no response was received from the higher priority connection during monitoring. The control module then sends this generated request during its own allocated transmission request interval.
12. The first device of claim 11 , wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.
In the described peer-to-peer wireless device, the transmission request interval used by the device comes *after* the higher priority connection's transmission request interval *and* the higher priority connection's transmission request response interval.
13. The first device of claim 10 , wherein said determination module includes: an interference cost estimation module for estimating an interference cost estimate as a function of the received response corresponding to said second connection, said interference cost estimate estimating interference which will be caused if the first device transmits traffic data.
The device described previously also includes an interference cost estimation module. It estimates the interference cost if the first device transmits data, based on received signal from the third and fourth device's earlier request and response.
14. The first device of claim 12 , further comprising: a second monitoring module for monitoring a second transmission request response interval the second transmission request response interval corresponding to said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection for responses to transmission requests transmitted during said transmission request interval.
The described peer-to-peer wireless device also contains a second monitoring module. This second monitoring module watches the response interval linked to the first device's *own* transmission request, checking for acknowledgements of its request.
15. The first device of claim 14 , further comprising: a threshold comparison module for comparing a generated interference cost estimate to a threshold used to determine if traffic data is to be transmitted.
The peer-to-peer wireless device previously outlined incorporates a threshold comparison module. This module compares the estimated interference cost to a threshold, determining whether the device should transmit traffic data or refrain due to potential interference.
16. A first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the first device comprising: first monitoring means for monitoring a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities; transmission request determination means for determining whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; transmission means for transmitting transmission requests; and control means for controlling said transmission means to transmit a transmission request using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when said determination means determines a transmission request is to be transmitted and for controlling the transmission means to refrain from transmitting using the transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection when it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted, wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
A peer-to-peer wireless device (the first device) connected to a second device includes: A means for monitoring the request/response of another connection (third/fourth device); A means to determine whether to transmit a request based on whether other connection responded; A means for sending transmission requests; A means to control the transmission based on whether the higher priority connection (third/fourth device) is using its time.
17. The first device of claim 16 , further comprising: transmission request generation means for generating a transmission request when it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received; and wherein said control means controls the transmission means to transmit the generated transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.
The device previously outlined has means to generate a transmission request if no response was received by the higher priority connection. It uses means to control the transmission of the generated request during it's own transmission time.
18. The first device of claim 17 , wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.
The peer-to-peer wireless device has a transmission time that is *after* the higher priority connection's transmission request and the response for that request.
19. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a first device, said first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, said instructions configured to: monitor a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities; determine whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; and if it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted based on the received transmission request response, refrain from using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection and refrain from transmitting traffic during said first traffic interval, wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
Non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that controls peer-to-peer wireless communications: monitor a higher priority connection's transmission request response interval; Determine if the first device should transmit a request. Refrain from sending a request and transmitting traffic if a response from a higher-priority connection *was* received.
20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 , wherein said instructions further comprise: if it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received, transmit a transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.
In addition to the functions defined in the prior claim, if no transmission request response was received from a higher priority device the instructions will direct the first device to transmit a transmission request.
21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 , wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.
In addition to the functions defined in the prior claim, the transmission request for the first device will be sent after the higher priority transmission request and it's associated transmission request response interval.
22. An apparatus comprising: a processor configured to control a first device, said first device having a first connection with a second device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, said processor further configured to: monitor a first transmission request response interval corresponding to a second connection between a third device and a fourth device, the first transmission request response interval being one of a plurality of transmission request response intervals in a first user scheduling interval corresponding to a first traffic interval, said transmission request response intervals being ordered according to transmission priority, transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said first user scheduling interval before transmission request response intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities; determine whether to transmit a transmission request during said first user scheduling interval based on whether a transmission request response for transmission of data was received during said monitoring from one or more communications between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to the second connection; and if it is determined that a transmission request should not be transmitted based on the received transmission request response, refrain from using a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection and refrain from transmitting traffic during said first traffic interval, wherein said transmission request interval is one of a plurality of transmission request intervals in the first user scheduling interval, said transmission request intervals being interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during the first user scheduling interval, and wherein the transmission request intervals are ordered in the first user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within the first user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
An apparatus with a processor controls peer-to-peer wireless communications: monitor a higher priority connection's transmission request response interval; Determine if the first device should transmit a request. Refrain from sending a request and transmitting traffic if a response from a higher-priority connection *was* received.
23. The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein said processor is further configured to: if it is determined that a transmission request should be transmitted based on the determination that no transmission request response was received, transmit a transmission request during a transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection during said first user scheduling interval.
The apparatus from the previous definition contains a processor that is configured to transmit a request if the transmission request response was not received from a higher priority device.
24. The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein said transmission request interval corresponding to the first connection follows a first transmission request interval corresponding to connections having higher priority than said first connection and said first transmission request response interval.
The apparatus from the previous definition is further configured such that the transmission request for the first device will be sent after the higher priority transmission request and it's associated transmission request response interval.
25. A method of operating a second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the method comprising: monitoring, by the second device, during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device; storing, using a memory of the second device, transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determining, by the second device, whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device, wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval, and wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
In a peer-to-peer system, a second device connected to a first device monitors for transmission requests from a higher priority connection (between third and fourth devices) and from the first device. It stores information about responses to the higher-priority connection's requests. If it detects a request from the *first* device, it determines whether to send a response based on signal quality of transmissions for the higher priority connection.
26. The method of claim 25 , wherein determining whether to transmit a transmission request response includes comparing the generated received signal quality value to a threshold.
Determining whether to transmit a transmission request response (to the first device's request) involves comparing a generated signal quality value (derived from the higher priority connection's communications) to a threshold.
27. The method of claim 25 , further comprising: in response to determining to transmit a transmission request response, transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to the transmission request interval in which the transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received; and receiving user data transmitted by the first device in a traffic interval.
If the second device decides to send a response, it transmits it during the transmission request response interval corresponding to where the first device's request was received. Then, it receives the user data sent by the first device during the traffic interval.
28. The method of claim 25 , further comprising: in response to determining not to transmit a transmission request response, refraining from transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to the transmission request interval in which the transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received.
Conversely, if the second device decides *not* to send a transmission request response, it simply refrains from transmitting during the transmission request response interval corresponding to the first device's request.
29. A second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the second device comprising: a monitoring module for monitoring to detect during a user scheduling interval transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device; memory storing transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; a transmission request response determination module for determining whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device in response to a transmission request from the first device detected by said monitoring module; and memory storing timing structure information, said timing structure information identifying a set of ordered transmission request intervals corresponding to different priority levels, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities, wherein transmission requests are transmitted during the transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, and wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.
In a peer-to-peer wireless device, a second device with a connection to a first device comprises: A module to monitor request from higher priority third/fourth device; Memory storing request response information; A determination module for generating a response based on signal quality and stored response information from the higher priority device. Memory stores a timing structure that has a set of ordered transmission request intervals for the priority levels.
30. The second device of claim 29 , wherein said determination module includes a threshold comparison module for comparing the generated received signal quality value to a threshold.
The determination module from the previous device contains a threshold comparison module that compares the generated signal quality to a threshold.
31. The second device of claim 29 , further comprising: a transmission request response generation module; and a transmission module transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to a transmission request interval in which a transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received; a wireless receiver module for receiving user data signals transmitted by the first device during a traffic interval; and a user data decoder module for decoding the user data signals received by said wireless receiver module.
The previously outlined device contains a request/response generation module; A transmission module to respond to the first device, a wireless receiver module to get user data, and a user data decoder module.
32. The second device of claim 29 , further comprising: a control module for controlling said transmission module to refrain from transmitting a transmission request response in a transmission request response interval corresponding to the transmission request interval in which the transmission request corresponding to the first connection was received when said determination module determines that a transmission request response should not be transmitted in response to a detected transmission request corresponding to the first connection.
In addition to the other functions, the previously outlined second device will have a control module that refrains from transmitting a request/response if the determination module believes it shouldn't be transmitted.
33. A second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the second device comprising: monitoring means for monitoring to detect during a user scheduling interval transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device; memory storage means for storing transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; transmission request response determination means for determining whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device in response to a transmission request from the first device detected by said monitoring means; and memory storage means for storing timing structure information, said timing structure information identifying a set of ordered transmission request intervals corresponding to different priority levels, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities, wherein transmission requests are transmitted during the transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, and wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.
The previously outlined second device contains monitoring means to detect a third/fourth device's (higher priority) transmission, a storage means to save the transmission, and a request response means to respond to the first device based on the previously stored transmission and a signal quality value.
34. The second device of claim 33 , wherein said monitoring means includes transmission request interval monitoring means for monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval.
The monitoring means from the previously outlined second device contains a monitoring means for the request interval of the first device, in addition to any preceding request intervals of higher priority.
35. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying machine executable instructions for controlling a second device, said second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, said instructions configured to: monitor during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device; store transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determine whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device, wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval, and wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructions to: Monitor requests from higher priority connections and the first device. Store data for those higher priority connections. If there is a request from the first device determine whether to respond based on the signal quality and the stored data from the higher priority connections.
36. The computer readable medium of claim 35 , wherein said monitoring includes monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval.
The instructions to monitor previously mentioned in the claim monitor request intervals for higher priority connections, as well as the request interval for the first device.
37. An apparatus comprising: a processor configured to control a second device, said second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second device being peer to peer communications devices, said processor further configured to: monitor during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device; store transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determine whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored transmission request response information for transmission of data corresponding to the one or more transmission requests between the third device and the fourth device, wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval, and wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities.
A processor configured to control a second device to monitor requests from higher priority connections and the first device. Store data for those higher priority connections. If there is a request from the first device determine whether to respond based on the signal quality and the stored data from the higher priority connections.
38. The apparatus of claim 37 , wherein said monitoring includes monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval.
The apparatus processor that is configured to monitor previously mentioned in the claim monitors request intervals for higher priority connections, as well as the request interval for the first device.
39. A method of operating a second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the method comprising: monitoring, by the second device, during a user scheduling interval for transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device; storing, using a memory of the second device, signal information corresponding to transmission requests corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and if a transmission request from the first device is detected by said monitoring, determining, by the second device, whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored signal information, wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, wherein said monitoring includes monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval, wherein said transmission request intervals are ordered in said user scheduling interval according to transmission priority, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities, and wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.
A second device connected to a first device will monitor request intervals for transmissions from a higher priority third/fourth connection, as well as the first device's request interval. The device stores the signal information from the third/fourth connection. The device will determine whether or not to send a response to the first device based on signal quality and the stored signal information.
40. A second device having a first connection with a first device, said first and second devices being peer to peer communications devices, the second device comprising: a monitoring module for monitoring to detect during a user scheduling interval transmission requests corresponding to a second connection having a higher priority than said first connection and for a transmission request from said first device, said second connection being between a third device and a fourth device; memory storing signal information corresponding to transmission requests corresponding to said second connection detected by said monitoring; and a transmission request response determination module for determining whether to transmit a transmission request response based on a received signal quality value generated from the stored signal information in response to a transmission request from the first device detected by said monitoring module, wherein transmission requests are transmitted during transmission request intervals, said user scheduling interval including multiple transmission request intervals and corresponding transmission request response intervals, wherein said monitoring module includes a transmission request interval monitoring submodule for monitoring transmission request intervals including a transmission request interval during which a transmission request from the first device may be transmitted and any preceding transmission request intervals in said user scheduling interval, wherein the second device further comprises memory storing timing structure information, said timing structure information identifying a set of ordered transmission request intervals corresponding to different priority levels, transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having higher transmission priority occurring within said user scheduling interval before transmission request intervals corresponding to connections having lower priorities, and wherein said transmission request intervals are interleaved with corresponding transmission request response intervals during said user scheduling interval.
The second device described previously has a monitor module to listen to the traffic. A memory stores the signal information from the high priority third/fourth devices. The determination module determines if the second device needs to respond to the first device, and contains an interval submodule to monitor the request interval for the first device, as well as all proceeding transmissions. Memory contains a timing structure as described.
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October 31, 2007
August 27, 2013
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